Balance and exercising board



Jan. 6; 1970 M. v. sAssEFz, JR

BALANCE AND EXERCS'ING BOARD Filed Oct. l5. 1965 Wig.

AVI/Vm mmmuwm wilma lll/11111111? l0 Muff/'n L( Sasse/j Jr United StatesPatent O 3,488,049 BALANCE AND EXERCISING BOARD Martin V. Sasser, Jr.,Rte. 3, Box 130, Tracy, Calif. 95376 Filed Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. No.496,320 Int. Cl. A63g 3] /00 U.S. Cl. 272-41 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA rigid elongated one-piece panel serves as a balance board. Therespective end portions of the panel are of uniform thickness and haveperfectly smooth at top and bottom surfaces. The median area only of thebottom side is recessed in a manner to provide a centralized shallowreceiving and seating pocket or depression for a segmental portion of anelevating and fulcruming roller. The roller is of a cross-sectionaldiameter greater than the depth of the pocket. A minimal segmentalperipheral portion ofl the roller is lodged rotatably and shiftably inthe pocket whereby to provide a body exercising, strengthening and skilldeveloping balance board.

This invention relates, generally speaking, to physical fitness and hasto do with a portable body exercising, strengthening, skill developingand recreational type balance board capable of advantageous use bychildren and adults and adapted for practical and advocated use eitherindoors or outdoors.

Briefly, this invention is characterized by an elongated rigid wooden orplastic panel having at top and bottom sides. This panel is tiltably andshiftably supported on a simple cylindrical type elevating andfulcruming roller. The roller is of uniform diametral cross-section fromend to end and its size is proportional with the length and width of thepanel, more particularly, the balancing board for the occupant.

The invention, in a manner of speaking, is broadly similar in purposeand function to a commonly called Bongo Board and analogous priorpatented adaptations which utilize a board or panel rockably coordinatedwith an underlying and fulcruming roller. However, in carrying out theprinciples of the instant concept certain new and useful improvementshave been devised.

One improvement has to do with a precision-made smooth-surfaced rollerunique in that it coacts with a shallow properly dimensioned recessformed in the flat median underneath side or surface of the main paneland which constitutes and provides a confining and keying pocket for aminimal but sufficient segmental peripheral surface of the roller. Theroller and pocket are proportional and by properly coating the surfacesof the pocket and roller with suitable wax or a light adhesivelubricant, the roller is virtually confined and is operatively ,keyedand stays put in its pocket even when the device is bodily lifted andcarried. Accordingly, the roller is self and ever ready for use andavoids undesirable and accidental displacement when the user, often abeginner, :mounts the board for teetering and balancing fun. Also, by`constructing these component parts of requisite weather-proof materials,the device lends itself to feasible use indoors or outdoors, as the casemay be.

In both embodiments herein shown the recessed -pocket is rectangular(either square or oblong) and has a flat bottom and four straight-edgedmarginal edges, two of which provide confining guides for the dat endsof the roller and the other two providing limit stops for the rollablyshiftable roller. This pocket has all marginal edges spaced from andparallel to the coordinating marginal edges of the over-all panel orboard. The pocket is precisely oriented and centered and the ends of theroller 3 Claims rice are accordingly confined within the marginal limitsof the thus isolated pocket to prevent any portion of the roller fromprojecting beyond the margins of the panel.

The elongated or oblong pocket is such in size and position thatexcellent balance and equilibrium is attainable, enabling the user tostand or squat and rock and roll from side to side (left to right). Theroller is then transverse to the lengthwise dimension of the board andits pocket. When the square pocket is selected for use the roller istransferred thereto and its axis is then parallel to the long edges ofthe panel, whereby to permit the occupant to rock forwardly andbackwardly for a change of pace and to learn and use a more difficultbalancing skill.

Then, too, novelty is thought to reside in providing the top side of thepaned with precision located foot pads which are footshaped,anti-slipping, and such that they quickly teach the novice how to getstarted for best results.

Further, it is within the purview of the concept to provide two boardsor panels positionable one above the other in superposed alignment. Thebottom panel then becomes a highly satisfactory base and has its pocketfacing upwardly, registering with the rst named pocket, and contributingto the extended utility and unique end result.

This board is uniquely designed and adapted for use of thenon-professional public with the idea in `mind that all (youths andadults) can afford to 'purchase it for recreation and balance. Aftertrial and error practice one can achieve the desired balance as well asdevelop leg and hip muscles that the customarily seldom used.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. l is a top plan View of a balance board embodying the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side or edge view with parts in section aud elevationshowing the device in ready-to-use position.

FIG. 3 is a section taken approximately on the plane of the horizontalsection line 3--3 of FIG. 2 with the roller appearing in elevation.

FIG. 4 is a section on the Vertical or transverse section line 4-4 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 1 but on a smaller scale andwith the main board or panel broken away to expose the paneltherebeneath and which, in addi tion, shows a slight modification in theconstruction and arrangement of component parts.

FIG. 6 is a cross section on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of theline 6 6 of FIG. 5.

Reference will be made first to the form of the invention appearing inFIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 there are twopanels the upper one of which is the main panel and denoted by thenumeral 8 and the companion panel by the numeral 10, both panels beingsubstantially the same in construction and being capable of coordinationand use in the manner shown, for example in FIG. 2. The main or toppanel 8 is of elongated rectangular form and embodies a tlat top surface12, a flat bottom surface 14, longitudinal marginal parallel edges 16and 18 and transverse end edges 20 and 22. The top surface is providedjust inwardly of the respective transverse ends with foot shapedoccupant standing pads 24. These pads may be superimposed on the topsurfaces as suggested in FIG. 2 or may be recessed (not shown). In anyevent, they will be made of anti-slipping material to not only mark theplaces for the left and right feet but to greatly assist theinexperienced user in taking the safe and easy-to-use position,particularly when starting the use of the device. The underneath centralside, that is the center of the bottom side 14 is provided with anelongated recess 26 which is of a prescribed depth and has a at bottomsurface 28 and longitudinal edges 30 and transverse marginal edges 32all of which are in plane at right angles to the fiat or bottm" surface28. Experience has shown that the preferred dimensions of this board areapproximately one inch in thickness, six inches in plan width andanywhere from 22 to 24 inches in plan length. The recessed area on thebottom which provides a pocket is three-eighths to one-half inch deep byfour to five inches in width and eleven to twelve inches in length. Thecooperating roller 34, which may be of wood or plastic, is three inchesin diameter (depending on the buyers ability and choice) and this is ofa length that it orients itself with requisite nicety in the confininglimits of pocket 26. Only a segmental portion of the peripheral surfaceof the roller is seated in the pocket. It will be noted from FIG. 3 thatthe dat end portions of the roller abut the lengthwise guiding walls orsurfaces 30 of the recess or pocket. The roller has relative rotatableand roving movement and the end walls 32 of the recess or pocketconstitute limit stops.

As previously stated the bottom or lower panel is fundamentally the samein construction as the upper or platform panel 8. It can bedistinguished from the panel 8 by considering it as a relativelystationary base board or panel. It also has fiat top and bottom surfaces36 and 38 (FIG. 2), has longitudinal marginal edges 40 and transverseend edges 42. The elongated recess which constitutes the pocket isdenoted at 44 and is opposed and aligned with the open bottom recess 26whereby the two recesses or pockets are properly interrelated. Thesegmental peripheral surface of the roller is received in the pocket 44in the same manner as it is ttingly received in the pocket 26.

The roller 34 may be made of wood or plastic which is also true of thepanels 8 and 10. It is within the purview of the invention to place theroller directly on a fioor or other support surface and to thus use thesingle platform panel 8, without the base panel 10, for rocking, rollingand balancing results. It is also to be pointed out that the materialsemployed should be weatherproof in character so that it is feasible touse the device both indoors and outdoors. Then, too, it will be notedthat the peripheral surface of this roller is uninterruptedly smoothfrom end to end and that the length corresponds with the width of therecess or pocket 26 as brought out in FIG. 3. Further, and in practicethe surfaces of the recesses, that is, the walls thereof, can be andshould be coated with wax or paraffin (even soap) to provide the desiredlubricating characteristics and to cause the roller to adhere to thesurfaces of the pockets so that, While the parts are individual andseparate, they are nevertheless capable of sticking together, so tospeak, to enable one to pick up the over-all device and carry it fromplace to place.

When a single board or panel is used, that is the panel 8, the roller isplaced on a fairly smooth area (indoors or outdoors) and the board fitson top of the roller and Ibriefly, to operate the user simply places thefeet near the ends of the board or preferably on the rough coated pads24 which are provided for that purpose. Also and briefly stated theinstructions for use involve placing the roller under the board recessor pocket. The user should make sure that the roller is in the positionindicated in the views of the drawing before attempting to rock or move.All that is necessary is to twist sideways with the hips by merelyrelaxing. The user will practice until the roller only contacts andmoves and rotates on the floor. In the case of contestants they faceeach other and determine who is the last to be tilted off the board.Occasional waxing and Soaping of the surfaces of the roller and surfacesof the pocket or groove will ordinarily maintain the device in goodworking order.

The second or -bottom panel 10 lends itself to use as a firm surfaceconditioning and foundation base for the first or upper panel 8. It canbe placed atwise for effective use on a carpet or rug surface with deeppile, on a covered kitchen fioor or equivalent surface, on a grassy lawnand perhaps even atop a table at which time it constitutes a firm andsurface protecting foundation for the rocking and rolling action of thefirst panel, the roller and the occupant of the first or balancingpanel.

With reference now to the modification shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the toptilting board or panel is denoted at 46 and has longitudinal edges 48and 50 and transverse ends 52. It is coordinated with the bottom or basepanel'54 having similar edges S6 and 58. In this arrangement the roller60 is adapted to fit rollably and turnably in one of the square recessesor pockets 62. The edges I64I. in this instance provide the limit stopshoulders and the coordinating edges 66 constitute the guiding andconfining edges for the ends of the roller 60. The end portions of thetop panel are provided with foot-shaped anti-skid pads 68. In otherwords, this form of the invention is the same as that already describedexcept that the smaller pockets make it possible to turn the rolleraround from the position shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 to the position shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 whereupon the roller is in a position at right angles andconsequently the motion of the top panel is to rock back and forth or toand fro in a seemingly evident manner.

Experience has repeatedly shown that it may be, and generally is,advisable to apply a suitable grade of wood coating wax to surfaces ofthe relatively movable parts. By doing so, undue wear is minimized andthe life of the over-all structure is significantly prolonged.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable body exercising, strengthening skill developingandrecreational type device comprising: an elongated rigid one-piecepanel providing a body supporting and balancing board, the respectiveend portions of said panel being of uniform thickness and having smoothfiat top and bottom sides, the median portion only of said bottom sidebeing recessed and providing a roller receiving and seating pocket, saidpocket having straight marginal edges spaced inwardly from and parallelwith the respectively oriented longitudinal and transverse marginaledges of said panel, and a panel supporting, elevating and fulcrumingroller of a cross-sectional diameter greater than the depth of saidpocket and having a minimal segmental peripheral portion rotatably andshiftably lodged in said pocket, the marginal edges of said pocketcoacting with respectively coordinating ends of said roller and movablyconfining and guiding the roller, said pocket being square in plan, of alength and width greater than the diameter of the roller so thatpositioning of the roller with respect to the length and width of thepocket, respectively, permits to and fro or back and forth rockingmovement.

2. The portable body exercising strengthening and skill developingdevice defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein the top side ofsaidpanel is provided just inwardly of the respective transverse endswith individual foot-shaped anti-skid foot pads.

3. The structure defined in and according to claim 2 and, incombination, a second panel corresponding in shape, size andconstruction with said first panel, said second panel underlying saidfirst panel and providing a rm surface conditioning foundation and basefor said first panel, the median area of the upper surface of saidsecond panel being correspondingly recessed and providing a rollerreceiving and seating pocket, said pocket being likewise square andcorresponding in size and depth with the rst-named pocket and facingupwardly and communicatively registering with said first pocket and alsoproviding a guiding and confining receiver for a coacting segmentalportion of the roller, that is, the portion diametrically opposite thesegmental portion which is confined and guided in said rst-named pocket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,608,598 11/1926` Heilborn.1,998,197 4/1935 Lang. 2,764,411 9/ 1956 Washburn 272-1 2,829,891 4/1958Ludwig 272-1 2,829,892 4/ 1958 Ludwig 272-1 6 3,188,087 6/1965 Larson272-1 X 3,352,559 11/1967 Larsen.

OTHER REFERENCES Balance and Conditioning Board, Exhibits A and U.S. Cl.X.R.

